Nekobukuro
Nekobukuro Cat's House (ねこぶくろ) is a petting zoo for cats located on the eighth floor[1] of the Ikebukuro Tokyu Hands store.
Nekobukuro is a play on the Japanese word for cat, "neko", and the location Ikebukuro.
It is one of the better known[2] cat-petting destinations, being included in tourist and sightseeing guides.[3][4]
For an entrance fee, customers may interact and play with any of the fifteen to twenty[5] cats currently running free around Nekobukuro at the time. Over 30 cats are rostered in and out over the course of the day to ensure they are not over-handled.
Like Tokyo's many cat cafés, Nekobukuro is viewed as an alternative to pet ownership while still maintaining pet interaction. Not only is buying and keeping a pet in Japan expensive, many apartments will not allow pets, and some Tokyo residents feel their work schedule may not be compatible with the ownership of an animal.[6]
Nekobukuro has no attached cafe and does not permit food or drink, but a couples discount and no time limit ensures its continued popularity as a destination on dates.[7]
List of cat breeds at Nekobukuro
A large variety of cats are kept, including the following breeds:[8]
References
- ↑ "TOKYU HANDS Ikebukuro Floor Guide". Ikebukuro.tokyu-hands.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
- ↑ http://tokyoincognito.info/2011/09/des-hommes-et-des-chats/ (French)
- ↑ http://www.sunnypages.jp/travel_guide/tokyo_leisure/one_day_experience/Nekobukuro+Cat%27s+House/4484
- ↑ "Ikebukuro Walking Tour". EveryTrail. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
- ↑ http://www.petfirst.jp/shop/shop90_nkbqanda/ (Japanese)
- ↑ : Jenn on November 3, 2003 11:42 PM (2003-11-02). "mediatinker.com". mediatinker.com. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
- ↑ Hoy, Selena (2010-12-15). "A guide to cat cafes in Tokyo | CNN Travel". Travel.cnn.com. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
- ↑ http://www.petfirst.jp/shop/shop90_nkbcatlist/ (Japanese)
External links
- Official Website (Japanese)
Coordinates: 35°43′48″N 139°42′59″E / 35.729903°N 139.716474°E